Input on My Recent Diagnosis - L5

Obviously new to the forums, but I wanted to throw out my story to maybe see what everyone thinks, and to weigh in on the situation.

I had an MRI on Friday, and I just found out the resultsMonday that I was diagnosed with a Protruding Disc in L5, with a light tear. My Doctor with Pain Management stated my options were Epidural Treatment, Possibly Surgery, or Physical Therapy. I am 27 y/o.

So here's my history....

In May '06 is when I first had back issues, and this was from my own fault. I was moving, and I lifted wrong & pulled my back. I saw a Minute Clinic, and was prescribed Muscle Relaxers (Skelaxin) & Pain Relievers.

I was fine after I recovered with Ice & such, but then I had another episode in '08 when I was at work, and I didn't lift anything, but bent over to pick up a piece of paper, and when I came back up, I was hit with a sharp pain which I could not relieve or escape. I had to leave work in my agonizing pain, and went to a Chirpractor, who treated me in several sessions, and it gradually got better.

I had another episode in February '09, where it just started hurting me really bad, and I saw a Local Pain Specialist, who treated me with Physical Therapy. They also gave me another prescription for meds/muscle relaxers. At this point, I weighed 260 lbs. I proceeded to lose 60 lbs in several months to get down to 200 lbs.

My most recent episode came in early January. I worked a full day, which is retail, so I alternate standing/sitting quite a bit. I was fine for the entire day, then I got into my car, and then my back started flaring up again, to the point where it had been before, agonizing pain. I went see a Walk-In Clinic, who prescribed muscle relaxers, pain meds, and gave me a shot of cortisone. Given my history, he recommended me to a pain management specialist - who then after visiting him, ordered the MRI for me.

So I hope this helps, and is fairly detailed. I have heard that bed rest is the ultimate cure for what I have. I only take pain meds/muscle relaxers if I am really bad off, which is rare. The pain comes & goes, but when it comes, it varies in how severe it hurts. I ice it for 20 minutes sometimes to deal with it, which seems to help. Ultimately, I want to get this to the point where I can play hockey again & such, but I really want input or feedback!

I noticed that you posted a few months ago but there are no replies. That has happened to me before so I try to post in particular in that situation. I hope you have your back problem resolved by now. You mentioned you have had an MRI, and were seeing a pain specialist. If you have been to PT, then one thing to remember is to keep up the exercises you learn. I know sometimes people feel better and then let up on that. I have learned that doing them religiously, every day, will help a lot.

Even then...sometimes there will be a flare-up. But keeping up with them all the time will help you back and minimize your pain in the long-run.